Following their silver medal performance in Croatia in the first stage of the European Championship, Monaco’s national rugby sevens team continued their impressive performance at the second stage in Chișinău, Moldova, finishing fifth overall. The result secured Monaco a fourth-place finish in the overall standings, a significant achievement for a team competing in its first season back in the Trophy division.
Monaco made a strong start to the tournament, opening with a 47-7 victory over Malta, before a 12-12 draw against Croatia. In their final pool match, Monaco fell 27-0 to a strong Swedish side, but still secured qualification for the quarterfinals, where David Bolgashvili’s team faced Sweden once again.
This battle proved to be a much closer contest. After trailing then taking the lead, Monaco was level with Sweden at the end of regulation time. Sweden eventually found the points in extra time, claiming a 24-19 victory and ending Monaco’s hopes of a semifinal appearance.
Despite the disappointment from a tough loss, Monaco bounced back quickly in the classification matches. Monaco defeated Hungary 14-12 before overcoming Croatia 26-14 to secure fifth place in the second stage of the European Trophy Championship.
After the two stages, Monaco finished level with Turkey in the race for a podium position. However, points difference ultimately separated the two, with Turkey taking the final place in the top three.
Nevertheless, Monaco’s fourth-place finish in their return season to the Trophy division marks the best campaign in the nation’s history at this level. The results highlight the progress made by the programme and confirms Monaco’s growing status, as they are currently ranked as the 16th rugby sevens nation in Europe.
The Nouveau Musée National de Monaco invites visitors into the world of one of Surrealism’s most influential figures with a major new exhibition dedicated to Romanian artist Victor Brauner.
Presented at Villa Paloma from 3rd July to 3rd January 2027, Victor Brauner: L’Aventure Magique showcases more than 160 works spanning the artist’s career, offering an in-depth exploration of his unique visual universe shaped by dreams, mythology, spirituality, and esotericism.
Despite his close association with the Surrealist movement after settling in Paris in the 1930s, Brauner developed a highly personal artistic language that distinguished him from his contemporaries. Throughout his career, he drew inspiration from a wide range of sources, such as folklore, alchemy, astrology, non-Western artistic traditions, and ritual objects, blending these influences into a symbolic universe of his own.
The exhibition traces Brauner’s artistic journey from his early years through to his later works, presenting paintings, drawings, sculptures, objects, and archival materials, many of which come from an exceptional private collection established in Monaco. Organized around several themes, the exhibition reflects on the artist’s relationship with Surrealism while highlighting the recurring motifs and symbols that shaped his creative vision. The exhibition is further complemented by 10 extra-Western art objects formerly belonging to Brauner, on loan from the Musée d’Art Moderne et Contemporain de Saint-Étienne Métropole.
Among the themes explored are metamorphosis, mythology, spirituality, and Brauner’s fascination with what he described as the magical dimensions of existence. A selection of objects and personal archives is also on display, offering insight into Brauner’s imagination and creative process.
According to exhibition curator Camille Morando, the exhibition aims to share “the magical adventure of this great artist with as many people as possible” through a unique private collection presenting some of the 20th century’s most singular and captivating works.
Accompanying the exhibition is a catalogue published by Hatje Cantz, featuring essays by specialists and further insight into the life and work of an artist whose visionary world continues to captivate audiences today.
A 14-year-old driver lost control of an electric microcar on the Boulevard d’Italie on Thursday afternoon, striking two pedestrians on the pavement. All three people involved sustained injuries in the incident, which occurred shortly before 2pm.
Officers from the Sûreté Publique and firefighters attended the scene. Traffic has been disrupted in the area, with diversions put in place while emergency services respond. Motorists are advised to avoid the sector.
Monaco Life will update this story as more information becomes available.
Monaco’s judicial authorities have publicly identified the principal suspect in the Principality’s first-ever parcel bomb attack as a Ukrainian woman in her 30s who disguised herself as a man — while Interpol, in a Red Notice published on Friday, names her as Anastasiia Berezovska, a Ukrainian national last residing in Germany.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday 3rd July, Monaco Deputy Attorney General Morgan Raymond was joined by Éric Arella, Controller in charge of Public Security, and Chief Commissioner Émeline Moreau, Head of the Criminal Investigation Division, to outline the investigation that led to an international arrest warrant and an Interpol Red Notice.
From left to right: Monaco Deputy Attorney General Morgan Raymond, Controller in charge of Public Security Éric Arella, and Chief Commissioner Émeline Moreau, Head of the Criminal Investigation Division. Photo by Cassandra Tanti
The conference followed Thursday evening’s announcement that investigators had identified the alleged perpetrator. Friday’s briefing marked the first time authorities publicly explained how they reconstructed the attack, tracked the suspect across several European countries and released her image through Interpol.
Suspect identified as Ukrainian woman living in Germany
While prosecutors declined to officially confirm the suspect’s identity during the press conference, the Interpol Red Notice issued shortly afterwards identifies her as Anastasiia Berezovska, a 39-year-old Ukrainian national whose last known residence was in Germany.
According to the notice, she was born in Ukraine on 26th June 1987, speaks German, has dark hair and a distinctive tattoo, believed to depict a snake, covering her right arm from the shoulder to the elbow.
Raymond confirmed that the suspect is wanted for attempted murder, placing an explosive device on the public highway with criminal intent, and criminal conspiracy.
Authorities have released CCTV images of the suspect identified by Interpol as Anastasiia Berezovska
Planned attack following days of surveillance
Raymond said investigators established that the suspect carried out several reconnaissance visits around the Sun Palace residence on Rue Révérend Père Frolla before the attack.
Security camera footage showed an individual appearing to be a man, dressed in a black bucket hat, dark long-sleeved clothing, light-coloured shorts and carrying a light-coloured shopping bag, visiting the area on 26th June and 27th June.
On the evening of 29th June, shortly before 9pm, the suspect allegedly waited on a bench at Place des Moulins before following the three intended victims as they returned home on foot after dining at a seafront restaurant.
“He stood up a few metres ahead of the victims, placed an explosive device taken from his shopping bag on the entrance steps of the building, then turned to confirm the presence of the three victims before triggering the explosion using a remote control,” Raymond explained.
Three people were injured in the blast – Ukrainian businessman Vadym Iermolaiev, his partner and teenage son.
CCTV revealed the suspect’s disguise
Investigators initially believed they were searching for a man. However, Raymond said a witness who had interacted with the individual on the evening of the explosion prompted detectives to re-examine surveillance footage.
Reviewing recordings from 28th June — the only day the apparent male suspect was absent — investigators identified a woman following exactly the same route around the scene.
Her movements, pauses outside the building and overall behaviour mirrored those of the individual previously captured wearing the bucket hat.
Combined with the discovery of a prominent tattoo on her right arm, investigators concluded the apparent male suspect and the woman were the same person.
“The repeated reconnaissance operations and the pauses made in front of the building clearly demonstrate the intention to specifically target the three victims,” Raymond said.
Escape reconstructed across Europe
Following the explosion, the suspect fled on foot towards France. Investigators were then able to identify a vehicle she had used during her stay in the Principality, obtaining a German registration plate. This allowed them to retrace her escape route from France into Italy and subsequently through several other European countries, before establishing that she had reached her country of residence. The car was found to have been rented specifically for the operation from a company in Germany where the suspect lived.
The woman is now the subject of an international arrest warrant, while an Interpol Red Notice has been circulated to police forces worldwide.
Investigation continues into possible accomplices
Although the alleged perpetrator has been identified, Raymond stressed that the investigation remains ongoing.
“The relative sophistication of the explosive device and the modus operandi appear to indicate that the person who placed the device was not acting alone,” he said.
Two men were arrested in Monaco on Wednesday 1st July and Thursday 2nd July as part of the investigation. However, Raymond confirmed that “the interviews and investigations carried out did not establish any active participation by these two individuals in the events of 29th June,” and both men were subsequently released.
Investigators are now focusing on determining whether the suspect had accomplices or whether the attack was commissioned by another party.
More than 250 officers mobilised
Public Security chief Éric Arella praised what he described as an exceptional mobilisation by Monaco’s security services.
“To be precise, the identification took 53 hours,” he said. He revealed that more than 250 officers were deployed immediately after the explosion to secure the Principality, while nearly 70 judicial police investigators worked continuously, day and night, on the criminal investigation.
Approximately 300 investigative actions were carried out and around 200 judicial reports were produced during the first stages of the inquiry.
Arella said Monaco’s CCTV network had proved “absolutely decisive” in identifying the suspect, while thanking the French National Police, the Gendarmerie, the Marseille forensic laboratory, Interpol, Europol and law enforcement agencies from more than 20 countries for their assistance.
“The identification of the material perpetrator in just over 48 hours — or, to be precise, 53 hours — is the result of the exceptional mobilisation of our personnel,” Arella said.
Nikki Beach Hospitality Group has opened the GC Lounge by Nikki Beach in the Longines Global Champions Tour event village at Port Hercule, bringing a new hospitality experience to this week’s Jumping International de Monte-Carlo for the championship’s 20th anniversary edition.
The lounge officially launched on Thursday evening, offering aperitifs, a three-course dinner, champagne and fine wines alongside what may be the finest vantage point on the entire circuit — the jumping arena set against a backdrop of superyachts and the open Mediterranean Sea.
The GC Lounge is open throughout the entire championship, with views over the competition arena and Monaco harbour available to guests for the duration of the event.
A Riviera-wide partnership
The Monaco activation forms part of an expanded collaboration between Nikki Beach Hospitality Group and the Longines Global Champions Tour that now stretches across three of the circuit’s flagship Mediterranean destinations this summer. Nikki Beach Saint-Tropez and Lucia Cannes by Nikki Beach have also partnered with the tour at its French Riviera stops, bringing the brand’s signature atmosphere to some of the championship’s most celebrated venues.
Photo credit: Cassandra Tanti, Monaco Life
Monaco’s 20th anniversary edition
The Jumping International de Monte-Carlo, considered one of the most technically demanding stops on the international show jumping calendar, continues at Port Hercule through to Saturday evening, with many of the world’s leading riders competing in what is also one of Monaco’s most spectacular sporting spectacles.
Photo credit: Cassandra Tanti, Monaco Life
The compact circuit, the Principality’s iconic harbour and the backdrop of the Palace make the Monaco leg one of the most coveted on the 17-stage global circuit.
Main photo taken from the Official VIP GC Lounge hosted by Nikki Beach Hospitality Group during the 2026 Global Champions Tour. Credit: Cassandra Tanti
Monaco’s historic yachts Tuiga and Viola arrive in New York for 250th Independence celebrations
New York is usually known for its tall skyscrapers and busy streets, but this week, two very special boats are stealing the show. As the United States gets ready to celebrate 250 years of independence, the Tuiga (1909) and the Viola (1908) from the Yacht Club de Monaco have arrived in the harbour, marking the start of a big trip.
The arrival of these two century-old flagships signals the beginning of an ambitious summer campaign, during which the vessels will traverse the East Coast to visit historic institutions that have defined American yachting.
A symbolic bridge between two nations
The Principality’s connection to American waters is long-standing and significant. Tuiga, a world-renowned racing yacht, brings with her a prestigious logbook featuring the sport’s most celebrated figures, including seven-time world champion Paul Cayard and four-time America’s Cup winner Dennis Conner. This journey serves as a tribute to the 1985 Monaco-New York race—the only transatlantic crossing ever held between the two cities—reinforcing the enduring legacy of the Yacht Club de Monaco.
Bernard d’Alessandri, Director and General Secretary of the YCM, is currently in New York to accompany the delegation and oversee the week’s events, ensuring the Principality’s maritime presence is felt across the Atlantic.
Joining the ‘Sail4th 250’
The highlight of the tour will take place on 4th July, when the fleet joins the ‘Sail4th 250’ parade. Alongside nearly 50 tall ships and 40 naval vessels, Tuiga and Viola have been assigned the distinguished role of escorting La Belle Poule, the French Navy’s 1932 topsail schooner. The flotilla will process from the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge to the George Washington Bridge, offering a spectacular view as they pass the Statue of Liberty and the U.S. International Naval Review.
A grand tour of the Northeast
Following the Independence Day festivities, the cutters will embark on a tour of the American Northeast’s most exclusive yachting enclaves, with scheduled stops at Larchmont, Indian Harbor, Seawanhaka, and the Montauk Yacht Club.
The voyage will reach its conclusion in Newport during the New York Yacht Club’s 2026 Race Week. While Tuiga is set to conclude her tour in Nantucket, Viola will remain in the region to compete in classic regattas throughout the summer, continuing to showcase Monaco’s commitment to the sport.
Preserving maritime heritage
For the Yacht Club de Monaco, this journey is a testament to the preservation of traditional maintenance and rigging. These classic sailing practices remain at the heart of the YCM’s philosophy, a dedication to maritime heritage that will be celebrated once more during the 18th edition of the Monaco Classic Week in September 2027.
